Marcus Rashford

Maradona37

Well-known member
Im shocked that there are so many of you that are for this transfer "He will be okay" , "He will do well". Makes me wonder how many actually having seen him play or just want a new player no matter who it is. No he "wont do well" under any circumstances.
Yeah I am far from convinced having watched him a lot, but trying to give a balanced view on him. It isn't easy though as there's stuff that can go wrong here.
 

El Ilusionista

Well-known member
Im shocked that there are so many of you that are for this transfer "He will be okay" , "He will do well". Makes me wonder how many actually having seen him play or just want a new player no matter who it is. No he "wont do well" under any circumstances.

Him supposedly replacing Lewandowski is the funniest thing ever. :lol:

Rashford + Dumbfries might be the worst Barca window ever.
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
@Skalman what do you think of this post I made on page 92. Too generous to him?

I won't talk about the financial aspects, just him as a player.

Positives:

1) On form he can be a statistical monster, even if it is short bursts and purple patches. If he hits form he can really go through a scoring and assisting run;
2) His passing can be a bit better than people claim at times, he is capable of good long range ones and through balls, though he only showcases it rarely.
3) As people have said, playing with better players could get more out of him. Especially given Flick's system that is designed to maximise the output and abilities of forward players;
4) Could be a good use for FKs, as Barca don't really score them. Lamine wants to step up though too;
5) He seems to really want to be at Barcelona, which is a good sign. He does better when motivated and all the more so with it being a World Cup year;

Negatives (some of these will seem the mirror image to the pros):

1) While he can produce purple patches of form, he can also blow cold for long spells too, and is highly inconsistent. He's also the type who drifts through games not contributing much or at all in general play, even when he does score. Though I have some degree of Faith that Flick can make him a better all-round player, even temporarily;
2) despite some claims to the contrary, I don't feel he can play CF or RW. If he does play CF it would be more as a fluid front three, as he cannot hold the ball up like Prime Lewa could. He could do a job on the right when Lamine rests, but he's at his best cutting in and shooting or coming inside and dribbling, so it doesn't suit him as he is pretty one-footed in general;
3) While playing with better players can make one a better performer, it can also be that they do less well while not being one of the top men, as he was with fernandes at United in his best spell;
4) His attitude can be bad as everyone knows. If it turns sour he could well sulk at being Raphinha's backup in big CL games or Clasicos. This could destabilise the whole team. He's a huge focus of attention in the English media so any drama related to him will be huge news over here and in Spain, and exactly what Barca don't need in preparation for a big game, as it's already chaotic enough.

There's more, but just collating some of the things I have noted about him in the thread into one post.
 

MonteCuler

Well-known member
Im shocked that there are so many of you that are for this transfer "He will be okay" , "He will do well". Makes me wonder how many actually having seen him play or just want new player no matter who it is. No he "wont do well" under any circumstances.
Terminally washed Lewa had crazy stats this season. Ferran Torres also did well. When chances are served on plate for you all the match and you are surrounded with world class footballers like Pedri and Lamine it's really not that hard for a striker with some basic abilities

No disrespect intended for Raphinha either, but the fact he managed to have such a season is also kinda miraclous. He is not someone with ballon d'or level of talent, but he could have easily won one this season
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
Terminally washed Lewa had crazy stats this season. Ferran Torres also did well. When chances are served on plate for you all the match and you are surrounded with world class footballers like Pedri and Lamine it's really not that hard for a striker with some basic abilities

No disrespect intended for Raphinha either, but the fact he managed to have such a season is also kinda miraclous. He is not someone with ballon d'or level of talent, but he could have easily won one this season
That's the main plus I see in him for the season.

He and Raphinha aren't world beaters on talent (they have an ok/ decent amount of it) but Flick's system seems to get attackers playing on steroids.

We can debate though if this is because his system is imbalanced in favour of the attack and puts too much pressure on the defence. If he focused more on defence maybe the attackers' stats would suffer.
 

Skalman

Active member
@Skalman what do you think of this post I made on page 92. Too generous to him?

I won't talk about the financial aspects, just him as a player.

Positives:

1) On form he can be a statistical monster, even if it is short bursts and purple patches. If he hits form he can really go through a scoring and assisting run;
2) His passing can be a bit better than people claim at times, he is capable of good long range ones and through balls, though he only showcases it rarely.
3) As people have said, playing with better players could get more out of him. Especially given Flick's system that is designed to maximise the output and abilities of forward players;
4) Could be a good use for FKs, as Barca don't really score them. Lamine wants to step up though too;
5) He seems to really want to be at Barcelona, which is a good sign. He does better when motivated and all the more so with it being a World Cup year;

Negatives (some of these will seem the mirror image to the pros):

1) While he can produce purple patches of form, he can also blow cold for long spells too, and is highly inconsistent. He's also the type who drifts through games not contributing much or at all in general play, even when he does score. Though I have some degree of Faith that Flick can make him a better all-round player, even temporarily;
2) despite some claims to the contrary, I don't feel he can play CF or RW. If he does play CF it would be more as a fluid front three, as he cannot hold the ball up like Prime Lewa could. He could do a job on the right when Lamine rests, but he's at his best cutting in and shooting or coming inside and dribbling, so it doesn't suit him as he is pretty one-footed in general;
3) While playing with better players can make one a better performer, it can also be that they do less well while not being one of the top men, as he was with fernandes at United in his best spell;
4) His attitude can be bad as everyone knows. If it turns sour he could well sulk at being Raphinha's backup in big CL games or Clasicos. This could destabilise the whole team. He's a huge focus of attention in the English media so any drama related to him will be huge news over here and in Spain, and exactly what Barca don't need in preparation for a big game, as it's already chaotic enough.

There's more, but just collating some of the things I have noted about him in the thread into one post.
Pretty much on the money, however the number 4 of your cons outweighs any of your positives. And I don't believe the number 3 of your positives will have any impact at all at Barcelona. Only chance is if Flick finds some magic that makes him ok but i think he is too old for that to happen, so a big loss for the team and for the club.
 

MonteCuler

Well-known member
We can debate though if this is because his system is imbalanced in favour of the attack and puts too much pressure on the defence. If he focused more on defence maybe the attackers' stats would suffer.
Yea I think so. While it's dream for attackers no defender wants to play with 50-60 meters of space behind him

But our defense heavily relies on our press, like Flick said. If we press better we defend better. Because attack is the first line of defense. Right now we have Lewa who runs in slow motion and scares nobody with his pressing

But I hope Rashford is smart enough to give his all here and press like a madman. Like Raphinha, like Dembele. It's how he can easily cement his place in starting XI. Even some of his weaknesses would likely be forgotten because it would help a lot to have another workhorse in pressing
 

zanela

Senior Member
Yep, pretty undeserved/unearned move if we are honest.

Neither did Ferran. But Barca paid 55m for him. All this outrage is misplaced when Barca has done worse transfer business in the past.

If theres someone who can replace an aging Lewandowski temporarily its Ferran Torres who scored 20+ goals in all competitions last season versus Rashford who scored barely 5 goals in all comps?

Flick tax.

Only a year ago, Ferran was the subject of mockery and everyone wanted him gone. Granted he did well in the latter half of the season, but him being spoken about like he's some dependable striker on here is laughable. Not like playing for a team that had the highest goal-scoring tally last season helps?. Swap their teams, and both will likely produce similar output. Nico, who Barca were originally after, has 16 career league goals so far whereas Rashford at the same age had 44. Yet most members were positive about the former's potential signing.

Paranoia thrives in the absence of context.
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
Pretty much on the money, however the number 4 of your cons outweighs any of your positives. And I don't believe the number 3 of your positives will have any impact at all at Barcelona. Only chance is if Flick finds some magic that makes him ok but i think he is too old for that to happen, so a big loss for the team and for the club.
Fair enough mate. I did think flaw 4 was a big part of it, and that positive 3 is a big IF. I think by age 27 (28 he will be in October) players are set in their ways. Hearing about his 'potential' is getting boring when he should be in the prime of his career. People will still be talking about 'getting him back to his best' when he's 36.

Yea I think so. While it's dream for attackers no defender wants to play with 50-60 meters of space behind him

But our defense heavily relies on our press, like Flick said. If we press better we defend better. Because attack is the first line of defense. Right now we have Lewa who runs in slow motion and scares nobody with his pressing

But I hope Rashford is smart enough to give his all here and press like a madman. Like Raphinha, like Dembele. It's how he can easily cement his place in starting XI. Even some of his weaknesses would likely be forgotten because it would help a lot to have another workhorse in pressing
That's all true, Bad news is though I have rarely seen Rashford press intensely. He has the athleticism and fitness to do it, but mostly can't be bothered. Maybe Flick will make him, though.
 

Skalman

Active member
Terminally washed Lewa had crazy stats this season. Ferran Torres also did well. When chances are served on plate for you all the match and you are surrounded with world class footballers like Pedri and Lamine it's really not that hard for a striker with some basic abilities

No disrespect intended for Raphinha either, but the fact he managed to have such a season is also kinda miraclous. He is not someone with ballon d'or level of talent, but he could have easily won one this season
Say what you want about Lewa....but he has some goal scorer instict that Rashford isnt even close to. Dont know what happened to Torres this season, but he did play with good players before this season as well, this season all just come together, maybe a one off for him, hopefully Rashford experiences something similar, more likely he is going to sulk the bench up.
 

Maradona37

Well-known member
Only a year ago, Ferran was the subject of mockery and everyone wanted him gone. Granted he did well in the latter half of the season, but him being spoken about like he's some dependable striker on here is laughable.
(sorry for omitting parts of your post but this is the part that interested me most).

I agree. Torres has had a few good months but people are acting like he's now set for the rest of his career. It could prove to be a purple patch (like some of Rashford's) and he could easily go back to being slated, as he was a year ago. I made the same point on him.

Not fair for jury to be out on Marcus but assume Ferran is set now.
 

MonteCuler

Well-known member
That's all true, Bad news is though I have rarely seen Rashford press intensely. He has the athleticism and fitness to do it, but mostly can't be bothered. Maybe Flick will make him, though.
It all comes down to him. If he's smart he will do it because his career depends on this loan. If he fails here he can just retire, not even Arabs will want him

Maybe the recent downfall has humbled him a bit. When he rots on the bench, only way he can have the starting eleven is if he runs like crazy

Dembele realized this and it worked out well. Lucho helped him a lot there, I remember in first half of season when Dembele was dropped for disciplinary issues. I hope Flick can do the same, after all he's German
 
Last edited:

Maradona37

Well-known member
It all comes down to him. If he's smart he will do it because his career depends on this loan. If he fails here he can just retire, not even Arabs will want him

Maybe the recent downfall has humbled him a bit. When he rots on the bench, only way he can have the starting eleven is if he runs like crazy
Run Marcus, run.
 

Devils

Senior Member
Crazy attacking depth we have now.

This guy is gonna be a hugely helpful.

Not gonna be a 35-40 goal season player but if he can put up numbers similar to Ferran like last season we can call him a success.

Now sign a LB ffs
 

zanela

Senior Member
(sorry for omitting parts of your post but this is the part that interested me most).

I agree. Torres has had a few good months but people are acting like he's now set for the rest of his career. It could prove to be a purple patch (like some of Rashford's) and he could easily go back to being slated, as he was a year ago. I made the same point on him.

Not fair for jury to be out on Marcus but assume Ferran is set now.

Not a fan of the player (as stated before). In fact, I'm anti-England NT so don't rate any of their players. Call it personal bias. But Rashford is now a Barca player so I'm willing to give him a fair chance. :peace:
 

Home of Barca Fans

Top